Brake rotor



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

Feb. 13, 1945.- R. wArTs BRAKE ROTOR Filed July 22, 1943 Feb. 13, 1945.

R. WATTS BRAKE RoToR Filed July 22, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 fuma-STAT o Patented Feb. 13, 1945` ES" mmm-FICE i l e e `BRAKE Ro'ron e o a RaymndWatts, Chicago, Ill., assgnorto 'Ameri--V o e e,"

of New Jersey l can Steel Foundries, Chicago, Ill., a corporation o applicati@ July 22,1943, serial No. 495,688

o oclaims. Comes-2,64)

seen in Figure 1` and partially in section, asindi- `cated-bythe line 2 -2 of Figure l`.

H My invention relates to rotors and more particularly tota` brake` disc or rotor adapted to be l attached to an associated rotating element` such t as the wheel of a railway cartruck for braking the same;` e

My novel rotor is lization in' a brake disc arrangement for a railway car truck; however, itwill be understood that therotor may be used Thegeneral object of my invention is to` pro- "vilde arotor comprising" means for directing a cooling iiow of air or other fluid in which the rotor may operate over the friction faces thereof in the manner generallyillustrated and described in Eksergian Patent No. 2,208,525.

Experience with" this typeof rotor, however,

has indicated that "turbulence `oryburbles isl' created atltheradially outer extremity of the brake ring` and` graduallyextends radially in` wardly to disturbthe `air `iiowdirected,` against the friction faces ofthe brake ring; Iandit is `therefore va specific object of my 'invention "to l, obtaincontinuity ofsaidwair flow unbroken by turbulence` or "burbles,`thereby obtaining' e a smooth continuous high velocity flow stream `held as closely as possible against the friction faces` of therotor` means located radially inwardly thereof., o Another` object of` my invention is to provide a disposed at opposite sides; offthe frictionlrings to denne therewith blower means inwardlyof the frictionfacesd t A differentobject `of my invention is to `design the variousA air iiow passages formed inymy. novel rotor in:` such mannerthat they taper `in crossespecially adapted for uti` o for any purpose to` `which it may be adapted. l

`Figure 3` is afragmentary and `somewhat enlargedview of the portion of therotor shown in section `in Figure 2. r

Figures 4` and` 5 are views comparable to Figure 3 and` showing re-` "spectively `modications of my invention.

` showing the conditions prevailing in an un t Y' Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional View comparable to those of- Figures 3` to" 5 inclusive, butstreamlinedrotor of thisgeneral type..`

Describing my novelrotorin detail and re-` ferring-iirst tothe embodiment thereof as illus-` trated `inFigures lfto 3Minclusive`, the rotor corn-` prises a brake ring generally designated 2 and formed by theV spaced friction rings 4, 4 defining therebetween the annular air chamber gdivided into a plurality of fair flow passages bythe spaced` radialblowerblades 8", 8.' The lfriotion rings 4, i 4 present on the remotesurfaces thereof the friction faces Ill, I0 for engagementwith associated "brake `shoes or` otherinonrotatable brake means for braking the rotatable element` to which the rotor `is" attached,` as :hereinafter described.

Located radially inwardly of-these friction faces IILJIU aremeans for producing an air lflow which has a radially` outward direction, said flow iinpinging directly upon both of saidl friction faces I0, l0; The means for producing this air flow comprises spaced annular plates "I2, `I2 at. opposite sidesof `the brakering 2 andconnected l to the adjacent friction rings 4, 4 by means-of `i0 rotor of theoabove described type in `which the` support hublis `j oinedtoone of l theannular `plates blower blades` I4,` I4.Q.The blades' I4, I4, the plates I2, I2, and the friction rings 4,A `4,'df`efine a plurality of air ow passages I6,` IIS` (Figure V3);

from which air is impelled during rotation of the 3 rotor i'n "such `manner as to impinge directly upon the friction faces IIl`,` It); and it will be clearly` "seen from the sectional views `of Figures 2 and-` 3 that the plates I2, I2 are tapered or `streamlined towardthe `radiallyouter extremities theresectional -area `toward the radially outer ends,

thereof, thus affording a `Venturi actionincreas-` ing the velocityof the Iair flow "and thereby increasing the cooling effect thereof.

In the drawingsFigure 1 is aside elevation of one embodiment ofmy novel rotor, `and Fig ure 2 is an edge View takenfrorn` the rightas of to prevent the formation of burbles `or turbulence adjacentsaid extremities, and likewise r the chamber betweengthe rings 4, 44, through 1` which additional cooling airis mpeiled during rotation of the rotorlis ared or streamlined ,atl

I8I8 (FigurcZ) at its radiallyouter'fextremity in jorder 'to avoid turbulenceorburbles at the outer edge of the' brake ring2. Alsothe friction rings 4, 4 aretapere'd or `streamlined at* their i'adiallyinner extremities as at "20, 20 `(Figure 3).

to afford a smooth flow of air throughthe chamberi and through the passages I6, I6; l, It will be understoodthatfbyjmeansofythe l fragmentary sectional streamlining features above described, the air flow across the'friction faces |D, l0 of the brake ring 2 is a smooth continuous'high velocity flow stream and is held as closely as possible against said faces I6, l0, as indicated by the arrows in Figure 3. It has been found that this arrangement is an extremely practical one for utilizing the air flow fromithepassages |6,,|6 to` cool thei friction faces `of the brake ring.

Attached to one of the annular plates 2, I2

is the hub portion 22 of the rotor, said portion" flow therethrough. The plates 2, ||2 are tapered at their radially outer extremities as at |20, |26 to avoid the formation of burbles adjacent said extremities, as described for the prebeing formed with a bore 24 for the reception 4of` a hub on an associated wheel, and the portion 22 also being provided with'aiplirrality-of-openeLv ings 26, 26 therethrough forfthe reception of se curing means for attaching the rotor to said wheel, the openings 26, 26 beingtreinforcediby' bosses 23, 28.

In the modification of my device illustratediin4 Figure/Lthecbrake :ringifgenerally designated 5L plates; 62,1 f 612 I are` :connected to lthe :brake ring 52 byi means-lof raidial lblades';.68":assin the." previousffembodiment, andf-intermediatefsaid platesy 62, 621. is'formed a: reinforcing lring 'I0 f streamlined vious embodiments of my invention, and likewise the radially inner extremity of the friction rings |64,|6,4 are tapered or streamlined at |22, |22 toaffbrd a` smooth flower air therealong. Integrally formed with one ofthe plates ||2 is a hub portion |24 generally similar to'those shown ir-r'Figures 2 to 4 inclusive. i

'Figure 6 illustrates an unstreamlined rotor of the general type illustrated herein, wherein the brake 4ringfgenerally designated |52 is somewhat similartoithose-,illustrated in the preceding figures and comprises the spaced friction rings |54, |54'.- defining-*-v therebetween the annular air chamber |56 which is subdivided into a plurality of' air flow passages by means of the radial blower blades:-v |516,` |58. i At'. oppositei sde'sifof 1f the friction ringsel. 5.4 |541a1rer thefaznnular' plates I 6.0; i 60 eonnectedto thefadiacent friction rings, bymeans off: theradial blowen blades, |615 |62: definingor taperedfasfzatn; T2 to' afford; a smooth flow of i l airftherearoundg" arrctlikewise AthezrraiiliallyV inner extremities -o'ftheffrictiorrrings; 54', 54.v are taperedori streamlined'as ;at'f14'; 14': Integrally formed with loner of 'thefannulan plates162 is; a hub member '|611f'generallyvsimilar: toi that described for the-previous embodiment: l

Another modili'cationnof.my-'invention is illus@ trated' fin" Figurer*5i;l whereinithe .hrakering generally= designa-ted' 02' is' formed byethelspaced fric# tion :rings 1 64; |04 deflriingy 'therebetween the .air chamberf lil dividediinto azplurality'fof Y air flow passagesf by f means; 1 of thee radial:` blower blades |685' |18, said chamberfbelng ilaredat itsfradiallyr outer extremityl-'asfrattl 0 for. a. purposefgenera-lly similar "tor tha' described for the previous em-` bodiments' .ofl my invention,

It willbeunderstood tl iat f! in zthc =modiflc ation shown -iirFi'guref 5, thewfrictionsringsf|64, |64 are inclined towardeach other "sof that theY cham berll lllfftapersrtoward theflared' portion `|||l thereof to i afford VVa, Venturi action resulting in asubstamtialfv increase r in ther velocity of' the v air radially outer'` extremities'z to; afford a. Ven-V turi action increasingl the velocity of the air Y with said plates and said rings a plurality of air new passages- |64,` |641 throughwhichpassages airis impelled duringrotation ofthe rotor against the. friction faces-166;, |66 of.- theA friction rings |54, |54:

I have found that in axrotorrsuch` aszthat illustrateotV in Figure 6, the air. flow(l through fthe, `passages. 64, |`64.-is that indicated` vby r thefarrows in this ligure, fromwhichz-it will beffapparent that turbulence or burbles formed. at thel .radial outer extremity of the4 llorakemirig |52- causesk the air from the friction `faces|$|, |662 in suchmanner as tofgreatlyimpair;` the cooling effectsof this air1 flow.. Likewise turbulence. at.A the radially outer extremities of. the plates |60, |66 diyerts thezair, ldrawn vfrom =opposite=sides lof the, rotor, as indicated, ybythe arrowsf in ,thisigureZ y ltisstc be-lunderstoodfthat.I.do not 1wish to, be limited by; theaexact embodimentsoff the device shown which are. merelyA by:y way of illustration and; not limitationy asvarieus. and other, forms ofi the, devicel willi, ofA course,V be yapparent to those skilled in the art with-out departing from the.. spirit of theinventiQn, or, the.A scope;` of the claims;L t

A l. Inlarrotor; xabrake ,ringe means foriattache ingsaidring to a rotatable element-to belbraked thereby,. said ring comprising two spacedv friction rings defining an annular air chamber there.,- b'etween, and each Aof said.' friction rings having an'annular'radial'friction surface at its outer end," means for' producing airkcurrents, said lastmentioned'means"being'located radially inwardly offsaidfriction surfaces?A for 'producing an air flow whichI hasa radiallyA outward` direction; said flow impinging directly upon* 'bothof said fric,- ti'on surfaces; and spaced-` blower'loladesextend'- ing between said-'friction rings'for'producing-am other air ow in a radially .outwardidirectiong said chamberbeing hared atdtsrouterf extremity te prevent" theffc'irmation of'fair b'urbless saidlaste` mentionedmeansincluding-a;-pluralityfof 'air ow Damages-:tapering in crossesectionai'f area; toward thee rachall'yy outward`-` extremitiesl thereof; said passagesffbeingr flared atctheir outerends ltofpre vent the formation'of alfburblesl--.

2; -Inxa rotor,` a brake ring;r means: ieri attaching tween, and each of said friction rings having an annular radial friction surfacerat its outer end, means for producing air'currents, said last-mentionedmeans being locatedradially inwardly of said friction surfaces for producing an air flow l which has aradially outwarddirection, said flow y impinging directly upon both of said friction `surfaces, and spaced blower blades extending between `said j friction rings -for `producing another airflow in a `radially outward direction, said `chamber being `flared at its outer extremity` to l prevent the: formation lof air burbles,` said lastrnentioned means including a plurality of air flow passages tapering in cross-sectional area `toward the radially outward extremities thereof.

` 3. In a rotor, a brake ring, means for attaching said ring toa rotatable element to be braked thereby, said ring comprising two spaced friction rings defining anannular air chamber therebetween, and each `of said friction rings having an Y annular radial friction surface at its outer end,

`means 'for producing air currents, said last-men- `tioned means being located radially inwardly of said friction surfaces for producing anair flow which has a radially outward direction, said flow i ,i .8. In a'r friction rings dening anannular air chamber therebetween, said chamber being flared atnits imp-inging directly uponboth of said friction surl faces, and spacedlblower blades extending. be'- tween said friction rings for producing another air flow. ina radially outward direction, said chamber being flared` at its radially outer extremity to prevent the formation of air` burbles, i and said chamber tapering in cross-sectional area toward the flared portion thereof.

4. In a rotor,` a brake ring, means for attaching said ring toa rotatableelement to be braked thereby, said ring comprising two spaced' friction rings defining an annular air chamber therebef tween, and each of said friction rings having an annular radial friction surface at its outer end,

means for producing air currentssaid last-,men-

tioned means being located` radiallyinwardly of said friction surfaces forV producing anfair flow which has' aradially `outward direction,` said flow` `impinging directly upon `both of said friction surfaces,` ,and spaced blower blades extending be tween said friction rings for producing another airflow in a radially outward direction, said last l mentioned means including aplurality of air flow `passagestapering in cross-sectional area toward the radially outward ends thereof, said passages being flared at their outer ends to prevent the formationof air burbles.

5. In a rotor, a brake ring, means for attaching said ring to a rotatable element to be braked 1 thereby, said ring comprising two spaced friction `rings dening an annular air chamber therebetween, and each of said' friction rings `having an annular radial friction surface at its outer end, means for producing air currents, saidlast-mentioned means being located radially inwardly of said friction surfaces lfor producing` an air flow which has a radially outward direction, said flow impinging directly upon both of said friction surfaces, and spaced blower blades extending be-` tween said friction rings for producing another air flow in a radially outward direction, said lastmentioned means including a plurality of air flow.

passages tapering in cross-sectional area toward the radially outward ends thereof. l

` 6. In a brake rotor, a brake ring, spaced an- 'nular plates at opposite sides of said ring, spaced blades extending between said ring and each plate their radially outer extremities, and said passages being flared at saidouter `extremities thereof.

"hln a brake rotor, a brake ring comprising friction surfaces on opposite sides thereof,.spac'ed annularplates `at opposite sides of said brake ring and disposed radially inwardly of said surfaces, spaced blades extending between each plate and said ring, and means on oneofysaid plates for attaching said rotor to an associated rotating element. Y i "tor, a brake ring comprising `spaced outer extremity, spaced blower blades extending between said spaced rings, spacedannular plates at o-ppositesides of said brake ring, spaced blower Lblades extending between each plate and the adjacent friction ring and defining air flow passages 'i therewith, said passages tapering in cross-seosages being flared at saidlouter ends thereofto spaced blades extending between each plate and said ring, and a hubintegrally formed` on the inner perimeterof one of saidlplates, said' hub projecting axially of said ring toward one side, thereof and comprising a bore for the reception of a complementary portion ofan associated rotating member, and openingsthrough said hub e for the receptionof means securing said rotating member thereto: e l

10. `In `a brake roto-r, a brake ring, means for attaching said ring to a rotatable element to be braked thereby, said ring having `annular radial `friction surfaces at opposite sides thereof` and disposed at its outer end, means for producing air currents, said last-mentioned means being located radially inwardly of `said friction surfaces for producing air flow which has a radially outward direction, said flow impinging directly upon said-friction surfaces, 4said last-mentioned means including a plurality of air flow passages tapering in cross-sectional area toward the radially outward ends thereof, said passages being flared at their outer ends to prevent formation of air burbles. 1

11`. In a rotor, a brake ring comprising spaced friction ringsdening an annular air chamber therebetween, said chamber being flared at its radially outer extremity, spaced blower blades' extending between said spaced rings, spaced annular plates at opposite sides of `said brake ring and disposed radially inwardly of friction surfaces formedon said friction rings, spaced blower blades extending between each plate and the adi jacent friction ring, said plates being tapered toward the `radially outer extremities thereof to prevent the formation of air burbles at said extremities, and means `on o-ne of said platesfor attaching said rotor to an associated rotating eleand defining uid iiow passages therewith, said `passages tapering in cross-sectional area toward ment.

12.` In a rotor, a brake ring comprisingspaced friction ringsdefminganannular air chamber l therebetween, said chamber beingflared at its outer extremity, spaced blower blades extending between said spaced rings, spaced annularplates at opposite sides of said brake ring, spaced blower blades extending between each plate and the adjacent friction ring and defining air flow passages afseaeee posedv at its.` outer end, means for producing air currents, said last-mentioned means being located."radially'inwardly of said friction surfaces for! producing airflow which has a radially outwarddirection; said flowfi'mpinging directly upon sadfrictionfsurfaces, said last-mentioned means including a; plurality of. air'ow passages taperingy in cross-sectional area'. toward the radially outwardendsthereof.

1.4. In' a. rotor, a brake ring,l spaced, annular platesiat. oppositesides of said brake ring, spaced blower: bladesextendingbetween said ring and each plate and defining air flow passages therewith,. said: passagesy tapering in cross-sectional areaztoward their radiallyvouter' ends, and means on one of said plates for attaching said rotor tosan. associated rotating element, said passages being flared at'said outer ends thereof to prevent formation of air burbles.

15. In arotor, a brake ring comprising spaced friction rings defining: an annular air. chamber.

between.` said spaced rings; spacedannular plates at opposite sides' oftsa-idz'brake ring; spaced. blower.:

bladesv extendingjbetween eacliplate: and the-adv jacent .friction ring, and a hub member integrally formed on one of said plates at the .inner pierima eter thereof for attaching said. rotor to an asso`I ciated rotating element..

17. In `a rotor, a brake ring, 'means for. attach ingsaid ring to a. rotatable element to be braked thereby, said ring comprising.. spaced friction rings defining an annular. air chamber therebe.- tween, and each of sa-id rings havinganannular.

friction surface, .said chamber being flared at its outer extremity` to prevent theformationofl air burbles, said.v chamber tapering in cross-sectionalV areatoward the. flared portion thereof;

18.` Inra rotor, a brake ring,v spacedannular plates at o-ppositeisides ofsadbrake ring, .spaced blower. blades. extending between said. ring and each. plate and defining air flow passages. therewith, said passages. tapering in cross-sectional area toward their radially outer ends,` and. means projecting fromone ofsaid plates. at onefsideofj said ring for attaching, said rotor to an assof ciated rotatingl element.

' 19. .In a brake. rotor, spaced friction platesdefining a fluid chamber therebetween, saidplates. presenting friction faces on their remote sides, blade means carried by said plateslwithin said chamber, and uid inlet means communicating with said' chamber, said chamber beingr flared at its radially outer extremity andtapering. in

cross-sectional area toward said flared portion.

20; In a brake rotor, a brakeY ringl comprising spaced friction rings' defining an annular air chamber'therebetween, spaced blower blades ex,- tenoling between said spaced rings, spaced annular platesat opposite sides' of said brake ring, spaced blower blades. extending, between each plate and the adjacent friction ring, and means on one of saidplates for attachingsaid rotor to an associated rotating element.

RAYMOND WATTS., 

